Page 11

Under the dim yellow light, Bai Yuesheng's clothes were in disarray, and he was covered in injuries. There was a bloody gash on his cheek and a wound on his forehead. He looked not only miserable, but pitiful as well.

The neighbors gathered around to watch could not help feeling some sympathy. Someone said, "Maybe he really didn't do it! Look how scared he is. He doesn't seem to be lying."

"Could the wiring have been old?"

"That's right, it must have been old wiring! My son is such a good boy—how could he deliberately set fire to someone else's house?" Bai Yuesheng's mother pulled her son into her arms and cursed at Gu Jiuque, "I knew you little brat were up to no good! Just to avoid paying Shengsheng's medical bills and emotional damages, you're accusing my son of deliberately setting fire to your house and trying to send him to jail! You're so vicious at such a young age. Is that how your family taught you?"

Gu Jiuque frowned. "How my family raised me is none of your concern."

Before Bai Yuesheng's mother could speak, Gu Jiuque continued, "I inspected the wiring in my home this afternoon and checked for every possible fire hazard—"

Bai Yuesheng's mother cut him off. "You say you inspected it, so we're supposed to believe you did? My son says he didn't set that fire either. Why don't you believe him?"

Gu Jiuque smiled faintly, perfectly composed. "You're right. Words alone prove nothing. We should wait for the police report."

Lying in his mother's arms, Bai Yuesheng broke out in cold sweat from the pain as he sobbed out his defense. "...It wasn't me... It really wasn't me... I didn't burn down the Gu family house... I really didn't... I don't want to go to jail..."

Bai Yuesheng's mother lovingly stroked his sweat-soaked forehead. "Mom believes you. Stop crying. Your father and I are here to stand up for you. No one will bully you."

Then she pointed at Gu Jiuque's nose and cursed, "Stop trying to scare us! If anything happens to my son, I won't let you get away with it!"

"Who won't you let get away with it?" A voice came from beyond the crowd. "You're threatening my son at my doorstep. Do you think everyone in the Gu family is dead?"

Gu Jiuque spun around abruptly. Before he could respond, someone pulled him into a tight embrace.

Lu Xunmei anxiously patted her son all over. "Are you all right? Are you hurt? Were you scared? How did the house catch fire?"

"Why are there so many cuts on your arm? Did anyone call an ambulance?"

Grandpa Gu nervously held Gu Jiuque's hands and inspected them over and over. Seeing the long, thin cuts Gu Jiuque had gotten while smashing the window and pulling someone out, he kept repeating in both distress and relief, "How could you be so careless? Thank goodness the injuries aren't serious."

Grandma Gu grabbed her grandson's wrist and carefully checked his pulse for a moment. "It's nothing serious. You were just frightened. I'll brew you some calming soup later. You'll be fine after drinking it."

Gu Dad could not squeeze through the crowd and could only stand a few steps away, staring anxiously at his son. The neighbors surrounded him, all talking over one another as they recounted every word the Bai family had said. "...They're shameless! They even wanted to extort medical fees and emotional damages from your family!"

"Kids don't know any better, so your son already agreed. But he said Bai Yuesheng started the fire and wanted the Bai family to compensate you for your losses too. Otherwise, he said he'd send Bai Yuesheng to jail!"

"If you ask me, we've all been neighbors for decades. Each side should give a little. If Bai Yuesheng really did set the fire, then have his family pay up, but don't send him to jail. Yuesheng is still so young. If he ends up with a criminal record, his whole life will be ruined."

"Exactly!" Bai Yanliang sauntered up to Gu Dad and picked up where the neighbor had left off. "I'm just saying—how exactly do you people usually raise your kid? He's so vicious at such a young age..."

"My son is vicious?" Hearing Bai Dad turn the tables on them, Gu Dad's fury flared. He grabbed Bai Dad by the collar. "The three of you ganged up to bully my son, and you still call my son vicious? Bai Yanliang, do you think my family is easy to push around?"

"Just talk if you want to talk. What are you trying to do?" Bai Yanliang's voice changed pitch. "Everyone, come look! Gu Yugui is attacking me!"

Gu Dad laughed in rage. "You're exactly the kind of inhuman bastard I ought to hit!"

With an "Ow," Bai Yanliang clutched his head and flopped onto the ground. "Ow, murder! Call the police! I'm dying! I'm dying! Why does everything feel like it's spinning? My head must have been damaged from the blow..."

Gu Dad had only just raised his right fist. "You went down too early. I haven't even hit you yet!"

Gu Yugui had only been putting on a show. He was not stupid enough to actually throw a punch.

Bai Yanliang scrambled back to his feet and said sulkily, "Your family is so rich. What's wrong with paying my family some medical expenses? No matter what, my son got hurt at your house. Shouldn't your family be responsible, morally and legally? Your son agreed so readily at first, but then he turned around and accused my son of deliberately setting the fire. He wants my son to compensate your family for the losses, or else he'll send my son to jail. Tell me, isn't that underhanded? Isn't that immoral?"

"My son isn't someone who makes baseless accusations!" Gu Yugui said coldly. "If he says Bai Yuesheng started this fire, then he must have his reasons."

Gu Jiuque stared blankly at the scene, and suddenly tears streamed down his face.

Seeing Gu Jiuque crying silently, Bai Yuesheng began to sob loudly as well. "Uncle Gu, I really didn't set fire to your house. Please, you have to believe me. Gu Jiuque and I are so close. I like him so much. How could I possibly deliberately set fire to your home?"

"Aunt Lu, Grandpa Gu, Grandma Yue, you have to believe me! I really didn't do it on purpose."

Lu Xunmei held Gu Jiuque in her arms and gently comforted Bai Yuesheng. "Don't worry. You and Xiaoque are so close; Xiaoque certainly wouldn't wrong you. The police will find out exactly how this fire started. We only need to wait for their report."

Bai Yuesheng hesitated. "But..."

At last, two ambulances with flashing blue lights arrived.

Lu Xunmei cut Bai Yuesheng off and urged him gently, "Hurry to the hospital. I need to take Xiaoque to get checked as well. Whatever you want to say can wait until tomorrow."